Tacking-machine.



No. 807,111. PATBNTED D130. 12, 1905. H. H. CUMMINGS. TAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.21, 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 807,111. IIATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. H. H. CUMMINGS.

TAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.21, 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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W1 WW r4MM/Q PATENTED DEG. 12, 1905.

H. H. CUMMINGS. TAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED r3311, 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 8- No. 807,111. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. H. H. CUMMINGS.

TAQKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED nus. 21. 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 807,111. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. V

H. H. CUMMINGS. TAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED $113.21. 1900.

6 SHEETS-SHBBT 5.

omrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. CUMMINGS, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JAMES H. OUTTEN, OF BOSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

TACKlNG-IVIACHINE.

Specification of Letterslatent.

PatentedDec. 12, 1905.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY H. CUMMINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tackin Machines,of

. being driven.

The invention will be described first with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which latter I have illustrated the'best embodiment thereofwhich I have yet contrived, after which the distin uishingcharacteristics of the invention wilfbe particularly pointed out anddistinctly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of atacking-machine embodying my present invention, the standard or sup portof the machine being in large part broken away or omitted to save space.Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the parts which are shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, partly sectional, of thedevices for gripping and holding the wire. Fig. 1 is a view in sideelevation of the parts which are represented in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a Viewin front elevation of the cutters and the parts which are adjacentthereto. Fig. 6 is a view showing, partly in side elevation and partlyin section, the parts which are represented in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view,partly in vertical section and partly in rear elevation, of the deviceswhich are employed for actuating thecutters. Fig. 8 is a view in sideelevation of the parts which are represented in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is aview, partly in section and partly in front elevation, of the devicesfor feeding the wire and adjusting the extent of feed. Fig. 10 is a viewin section on the dotted line 10 10, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows the feedingdevices in plan with rod 28 in horizontal section on line 11 11, Fig. 9.Fig. 12

is a top view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 13 is a sideelevation of a tack or nail formed by machine embodying my invention,the said tack or nail being somewhat enlarged.

1 (see more particularly Fig. 2) designates the framework supporting thevarious moving parts of the machine, and 2, Fig. 1, designates the 0stor standard on the upper end of which t e said framework of the machineis mounted or located.

3 (see moreparticularly Fig. 2) is an operatin shaft mounted to turn inbearings in the ramework 1 and having applied thereto a bandulley, as4:, around which in practice is inten ed to be passed a driving-band(not shown) actuated by any suitable means. In connection with the saidband-pulley 4 and the said shaft I contemplate employing in practiceclutch devices, by means of which the shaft may be thrown intorevolution whenever desired, as upon the actuation of a treadle, andautomatic stop devices whereby the shaft will be arrested after thecompletion of a single rotation or revolution thereof, as customary inmachines ofthis class. Inasmuch as devices such as have just beenreferred to are well known and in general use, I have omitted them fromthe drawings in order to secure as much simplicity and clearness in thelatter as possible. From the said shaft 3 the various moving parts ofthe machine are actuated.

The wire is shown at 5, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, and in practice thesame will be drawn by the machine from a reel (not shown) and whichconveniently may be supported on the upper extremity of the arm orupright 6. (Partly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.) On its way from the saidreel or other source of supply the wire 5 passes through a tubular guide12, Figs. 1 and 2, then through a hole in the projection 14 of themachine framing, as shown in Fig. 2, then between the jaws 15 16 of thefeeding device, Figs. 1 and 9, then through the guide at 17, Fig. 1,then between the holding-jaws 7 8, Figs. 1 and 3, then through the guideat 9, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, then between the working edges of the cutters10 10, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, and the advancing end of .the wire as itpasses beyond the saidcutters projects into the vertical slot at 11,same figures.

In the working of the machine, the feeding device being at the upperextreme of its movement, the jaws 15 16, Figs. 1 and 9, thereof areclosed upon the wire so as to grip the latter, and by the advancingmovement of the said feeding device in a downward direction the wire isadvanced so as to cause the end thereof to project between the cutters10 10 and beyond the latter into the slot 11 to the extent which isrequired for the production of a nail or tack of the required length.The extent of the advance of the wire is regulated by means of adjustingdevices, which are combined with the feeding device, as is explainedlater herein. During the advancing movement of the wire theclamping-jaws 7 S are freedfrom restraint sufiiciently to permit of themovement of the Wire between them in the direction of the feed. On thecompletion of the feed movement of the wire the clamping-jaws 7 8, Figs.1 and 3, are closed positively uponthe same, so as to hold it frommovement in either direction, while the cutters 10 10 are closed uponthe wire, so as to severa nail or tack therefrom.

18, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, is a pusher working in the slot 11 and to whichis given a lateral movement in the said slot after the severance of anail or.tack from the wire 5 has been effected, the said lateralmovement of the'pusher 18 in the slot 11 serving to shift thejust-formed nail or tack into a drivingchamiel 19 in line with the endof a driver 20. By the descent of the said driver the said nail or tackis driven into the work, the latter being in practice held by theoperator pressed up against the lower end. or nose of the workrest 21,Figs. 1, 5, and 6.

Thefeeding device, Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10, and 11, consists of a block 22,mounted with capacity to move vertically in the machine and providedwith the jaws 15 and 16 for engagement with the 'wire 5. In the drawings(see more particularly Fig. 2) the said block 22 is shown as formed ormounted upon the for ward extremity of an arm 23, which is hung orpivoted to the machine-framing at its rear extremity, as upon thepivotal pin or bolt 24, Fig. 2.

The jaw 15 is shown as fixed, but adjustable, while the jaw 16 isoperated to compress the wire against the said fixed jaw at intervals,as required, in order to enable the feeding of the wire to be effectedwhen the feeding device is advanced.

The fixed jaw 15 is preferably constituted by a screw, against the innerend of which the wire 5 takes a bearing, the said screw fitting athreaded hole that is tapped horizontally into the block 22. In order toprevent any accidental loss of adjustment, I provide means to lock thesaid screw in the position which is given to it. Thus in the presentcase I have formed avertical slit or slot 241, intersecting the saidthreaded hole, and I employ a transversely-extending screw 25,

whereby to draw together the portions of the block 22 at opposite sidesof the said slit or slot and cause the screw 15 to be gripped or bound.

The movable jaw 16 is shown as constituted by a pin which is movablelengthwise within a hole that is formed for its reception in block 22,the inner end of said pin engaging with the wire 5 and the outer endthereof being in proximity to a projection or arm of a lever 26, whichlast is connected pivotally with block 22, as by means of a in 27 Fi s.1 and 9. The outer end of the lever 26 has connected therewith by auniversal-joint connection, as at 268, Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the lowerend of a rod 28, the upper end of which is in operative connection withan arm or lever 29, the said arm or lever 29 standing at right angles toarm 23, and hence swinging in a plane at an angle to that in which thelatter swings, and being in turn connected by a rod 30, Figs. 1 and 2,with the crank 31 on the front end of shaft 3. The limit of the movementof the lever 26 relatively to the block 22 in the direction (upward)which is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9 is determined by a! shoulder261 upon the lever 26 coming into engagement with a shoulder 262 on theblock.

In order to insure that the movement of the feeding device shall beresisted with sufficient force to insure the turning of the lever 26about its pivotal connection with block 22 at each extreme of itsvertical movement and to insure the firm gripping of the wire during thedownward movement, whereby I insure the gripping of the wire betweenjaws 15 and 16 before the feeding device begins to descend, the firmengagement of such jaws with the wire during the descent of the feedingdevice, and also the release of the wire from compression before thefeeding device begins to ascend, I combine with the feeding device adrag or friction device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprising a pin 231,projecting from arm or lever 23 through a slot 232 in a part of themachine-framing l and receiving on the other side of the said part awasher 233, Fig. 1, a spring 234 hearing against said washer, so as topress it against the surface of the said part of the machine-framing,and a nut 235 whereby to adjust the tension of the said spring. In thismanner the shoulder 236, Fig. 2, of said pin 231 and the washer 233 areheld in frictional contact with opposite sides of the said part of themachine-framing.

Through the devices which have been described as intervening between thesaid crank 31 and the lever 26 the said lever first is turned upon thepivot 27, so as to force the movable jaw 16 against the wire 5 to causethe latter to be gripped or held against the fixed jaw 15. As soon asthe inward movement of jaw 16 becomes arrested by the wire the powerthat is ap lied to lever 26 operates to depress the fee mg device,thereby advancing the wire. Should the wire be absent, the contact ofpin 16 with the inner end of pin will be followed by the depression ofthe feeding device. When the lowest point in the movement of the feedingdevice has been reached, the change in the direction of movement of rod28 swings the lever 26 slightly on its pivot 27, relieving the jaw 16 ofpressure and releasing the wire, after which the feeding device iscarried upward into its highest position in consequence of theengagement of shoulder 261 with the shoulder 262.

In order to permit the extent of the feed of the wire at each advancethereof to be regulated or varied, as is required in practice, I providefor adjustment in the actuating connections of the lever 26 and feedingdevice. Preferably I accomplish this by allowing lost motion to occurbetween the arm or lever 29 and the rod 28 and also by providing meansfor varying the amount of such lost motion at will. Figs. 9 and 10 ofthe drawings show the arm or lever 29 as having a groove 32 on one sidethereof and a shoulder 33 at' the lower end of such groove. Through theupper extremity of the rod 28 passes a in 34, one endof which enters andplays in t e said groove 32. When the arm 29 is swung upwardly in theworking of the machine, the said shoulder 33 engages with the said endof the pin 34, and thereby causes the rod 28 to move upwardly also. Theother end of the pin 34 plays in a groove 35 in an arm 36, which isivoted concentrically with arm 29, as upon t e pin or stud 37, Figs. 1and 9, the said arm 36 being connected with arm 29, so as to cause it'to move in unison therewith. The shoulder 38 at the upper end of groove35 engages with the corresponding end of pin 34 in the descent of thearms 29 and 36, thereby causing the rod 28 to move downward.

The extent of the movement which is transmitted to the feeding devicefrom the arms 29' and 36 corres onds to the extent of the movement ofsuc arms at the distance from their common center at which the pin 34becomes engagedtherewith less the lost motion or play of the pinintermediate the two shoulders 33 and 38. The extent of this lost motionor play is varied in order to regulate the extent of feed as required bymaking an adjustment of the arm 36' with reference to the arm 29. Aconvenient means of connecting the arms 29 and 36 together with capacityfor making this adjustment consists of a gearsegment, as at 381, uponthe outer extremity of the arm 36 and the pinion 39, mounted on the arm29, engaging the said gear-segment 381 and provided with a thumb wheel40, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) by means of which to rotate the same. Thepinion 39 and thumbwheel 40 are sleeved upon the fixed pin or stud 41,to which is applied the upper end of the connecting rod 30. The face ofthe thumb-wheel 40 is provided with graduations or indicia, as indicatedin Fig. 1, and a pointer or index 42 is secured to the outer extremityof the said stud or pin 41, so as to remain fixed or stationary when thethumb-- wheel and pinion are rotated. (See Fig. 1.) The clamping-j aw 7is applied to or formed upon the plate 43, Figs. 1 and 3, which latteris held to the machine-framing by screws 44 44. The jaw 8 is formed uponor applied to a lever 45, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the latter being mountedupon a pivot 46, Fig. 3, and acted upon by a spring 47, Figs. 1, 3, and4, which operates to press the jaw 8 toward the jaw 7.

For the purpose of closing the clampingjaws at intervals upon the wirein a positive manner, so as to hold the latter from undesired movementduring the action of the cutters, a cam 48, Figs. 3 and 4, is mountedupon 'the shaft 3 and engages with the tail of the lever 45. The saidcam may be caused to hold the wire clamped during the early part of theupward movement of the feeding device, and also its action upon themovable clamp may be continued as far during such upward movement as maybe deemed desirable. It is intended that the tension and power ofthespring 47 shall be sufficient to a hold the movable jaw compressedtoward the fixed jaw with enough force to hold the wire from undesiredmovement during the time when the cam 48 is not operating the'movablejaw.

For the purpose of effecting adjustment of the jaws 7 and 8 withreference to each other to suit the gage of the wire being operated uponand for other reasons I employ by preference an eccentric mounting forthe pivot 46. To this end I form the pivot 46 on the front end of ashort shaft 461, which is fitted to a hole in the machine-framing 1, anddispose the said pivot eccentrically with respect to the axis of thesaidshort shaft. This enables me by occasioning a rotary adjustment ofthe shaft 461 to effect the desired adjustment of the clamping-jaw 8with relation to the jaw 7. For convenience in rotating shaft 461 Icause the rear end thereof to project, as in Fig. 4, and form a hole 462therethrough for the reception of a pin or the like by which toeffectthe rotation of the shaft. To hold the shaft and pivot afteradjustment, I employ one or more clampingscrews 463 463, Fig. 4.

The guide at 9 consists of a groove on the rear side of the plate 43, asindicated in Figs.

3 and 5, and preferably in practice a thin plate 49 is applied behindthe plate 43, so as to constitute a cover for the groove just mentioned,the said plate lying in front of the shank or stem of the driver,presently to be described, and holding the wire out of con tact with thesaid stem or shank. The chief urpose of the plate 49 is to prevent thewire from becoming displaced toward the rear relatively to the cutters,which might operate to prevent the latter from severing the wirecompletely or perfectly.

The cutters 10 10, Figs. 1 and 5, consist of small arms having theirworking extremities proximate to each other on opposite sides of theline of movement of the wire 5. The said arms are mounted on the reducedforward ends of short parallel shafts 50 50, being clamped againstshoulders on the said shafts by means of nuts 51 51, suitable keys 511511 being provided to insure proper position of cutters. Upon the rearends of the said shafts 50 50 are fixed arms 52 53, Fig. 7, one on eachshaft, the arm 52 being slotted radially for the reception of a slidingblock 54, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and the arm 53 beingprovided with a pin 55, entering a hole in said block. The arm 53 isformed or provided also with a fork fitting a cam 56 on the shaft 3. Bymeans of the said cam 56, arms 52 and 53, and connections between saidarms the cutter-carrying shafts and cutters are operated so as to causethe working ends of the cutters to approach each other from the positionthat is represented in Fig. 5, so as to sever the wire and afterward toseparate to approximately the extent which is shown in the said figures.

The cutters vibrate through short arcs, their working or operativestroke being in the direction of the feed of the wire. As the actingportions thereof make their stroke to ward the leading end of the wirethe said acting portions move in curved paths which are nearlytangential, but intersect at an acute angle at a point located betweenthe centers of movement of the cutters, the said point being near orapproximating a line connecting the said centers. The describedarrangement of cutters operates with a rolling action of the latter,such action being powerful and certain in effect, while consuming butlittle driving power. By reason of the acute angle at which the paths ofthe acting portions of the cutters intersect and the fact that forwardmovement of the wire during the cutting operation is prevented by theholding mechanism a comparatively long wedge-shaped point is produced onthe end of the wire from which the nail or tack is severed, andcorrespondingly long oppositelydiverging spurs or burs are produced onthe upper end of the said severed nail or tack. As the cutters completetheir working stroke the approach of their acting portions to the lineconnecting the centers of motion of the.

cutter causes such portions of the cutters to bend or spread the spursor burs away from each other, thus forming a transverselyexpanded headfor the nail or tack. The shape of the nail or tack thus formed will beclearly seen in Fig. 13, in which the body of the nail is indicated byA, the spurs or burs by B, and the point by C. The size and shape of theburs B and point C depend upon the size of wire from which the nails areformed, as well as upon the particular path of movement given to theknives when the machine is built. The spurs or burs become still morewidely spread apart under the action of driver 20 in being driven.

In order to enable the working ends of the cutters to be brought withprecision into proper working relation with respect to each other and tocompensatefor differences between the two cutters, particularly such asresult from the grinding or regrinding thereof, I provide for effectingangular adjustment of the cutters relatively to each other and also foreflecting adjustment of the cutter carrying shafts bodily with relationto each otherfor example, toward and from the middle line of the path ofthe wire. I prefer to effect the said angular adjustment by a deviceapplied to the connections by means of which the cutter-carrying shaftsare actuated in unison with each other. In the present case I constructthe pin 55, which connects the block 54 to the arm 53, with one portionthereof-namely, the portion thereof which enters the hole that isprovided for its reception in such blockeccentric with relation to theother portion thereof-namely, the portion thereof which enters the holeor socket that is provided in the said arm 53 for its reception. Byrotating the said pin in the said socket in the arm 53 thecuttercarrying shaft 50, on which the slotted arm 52 is mounted, will beturned partially upon its axis, whereby the required angular adjustmentof the cutter of such shaft relatively to the cutter of the othercutter-carrying shaft is effected. In connection with eccentric pin 55 Iprovide means for preventing accidental or undesired rotation of thesaid pin in its socket. To this end I have in the present instance madea slit or slot in the arm 53 leading into the socket, as at 565, Figs. 6and 7 thus converting the said socket into a split one, and I provide ascrew 561, whereby to clamp the sides of the socket upon the pin afterthe adjustment thereof. To facilitate the turning of the eccentric pin55 in making the described adjustment thereof, I have shown a hole 566therein for'the reception of a pin or the like device.

For the purpose of effecting adjustment of the cutter-carrying shaftsbodily I mount each thereof in an eccentrically-bored bearing-sleeve, as57, having a cylindrical exterior and fitting a cylindrical socket inthe framework 1. Each of these sockets is split, as at 58, and providedwith one or more clampingscrews, as at 59, whereby to enable the socketto be tightened upon the bearing which is located therein after therequired rotary adjustment of the bearing within its socket has beeneffected. To facilitate the turning of' the bearings 57 57 within theirsockets, each .of the said bearings is or may be provided with aprojecting pin 60, Figs. 1 and 5, constituting a handle or other knowndevice. I After the nail or tack has ,been severed from the advance endof the continuous wire 5 it occupies a position in the slot 11 of theplate 61, the nail or tack at such moment being immediately at the rearof the pusher 18, which works in the said slot. To the said pusher 'iscommunicated a movement from front to rear, which enables it to push thesaid nail or tack rearwardly into the vertical driving-channel 19, 6.

The pusher 18 has connected therewith a pin 181, Fig. 6, fitting withina hole 182, that is formed in the machine-framing 1 and movablelongitudinally in the said hole, a spiral spring 183 being locatedwithin the hole also and compressed by the extremity of pin 181. Thesaid spring acts with a tendency to hold the pusher normally to thefront, as in Fig. 6, while a side cam 184 on shaft 3 acts against thepusher at the proper moment to occasion the rearward movement of thepushernamely, to the right-hand side in Fig. 6

whereby the nail or tack is pushed into the driving-channel.

The lower end of the driver 20 plays up and down in the said channel 19and in its descent forces the nail or tack into the work which is beingpressed by the operatorupward against the nose of the work-rest 21. Thebar or shank 62 of the driver 20 is provided with a head 63, Fig. 1,with which latter is connected pivotallyone end of a link 64, having theother end thereof connected pivotally with the actuating-arm 65. Thelatter is mounted to turn on the pin or stud 37 alongside the arm orlever 29, and to a pin or projection 661, Fig. 2, thereon is connectedone end of a spiral spring 66, Fig. 2, encircling the hub of the arm andhaving its other end connected with ,a pin 663 on a lever 664, which ispivoted on the pin or stud 37. The said spring acts with a tendency toforce the driver 20 downward, and its tension is regulated by effectingadjustment of lever 664, the latter being formed with teeth 665, Fig. 1,that are engaged by a dog or pawl 666, which is mounted on a fixed partof the machine-framin and is pressed into engagement with the said teethby means of a spring 667.

The head 63 'of the driver 20 is provided with a cushion 631, composedof disks of leather or other suitable material, which cushion strikes afixed portion of the machineframework 1 to arrest without excessivenoise or shock the descent of the driver and the parts which areconnected therewith.

The elevation of arm 65 and the driver is efiected through the aid ofthe arm or lever 29. A block or the like (designated 67, see dottedlines, Fig. 1) projects from arm 65 toward arm or lever 29. On-the sideof the latter next the arm 65 is pivoted a dog 68, Figs. 1 and 9, toengage the said block 67, the said dog having connected therewith aspring 69, Fig. 9 which tends to hold it normally in position to engagewith block 67. In the rise of arm or lever 29 the end of the said dog 68takes under the block 67, and thus carries the arm 65 upward, liftingthe driver 20. in the rise of the arms 29 and 65'into contact with afixed stop 71, Fig. 1, projectin from pin or stud 37, and thereby as thesai arms continue their upward movement the disengagement of dog 68 fromblock 67 is efiected,

whereupon the spring 66 occasions immediately the descent of arm 65 andthe driver 20. The tubular guide 12 is carried by the driverhead 63.

I claim as my invention 1. The improved cutting devices comprisingcutter-carrying shafts mounted on opposite sides of the path of thewire, cutters carried. by the said shafts and engaging the 0ppositesides of the wire, and means for actuating the said shafts, includingintermediate devices to cause the shafts to turn in unison, and alsoprovisions for effecting an angular shift or adjustment of the cuttersrelatively to each other, substantially as described.

2. The improved cutting devices comprising cutter-carrying shaftsmounted on opposite sides of the path of the wire, cutters carried bythe said shafts and engaging the opposite sides of the wire, and meansfor actuat ing the said shafts, including arms secured to the respectiveshafts and in pin-and-slot connection with each other, the pin havingee- A tail 7 O on the dog 68 is carried I centric portions andalsohaving capacity for tively to each other, substantially as described.

3. The clamping devices having a movable jaw, a spring acting on thesaid jaw with a tendency to hold the same closed, a moving cam oreccentric whereby for part of the time the said jaw is closedpositively, and a shaft carrying an eccentrically-disposed pivot onwhich the said movable aw is mounted, whereby by making rotaryadjustment of the said shaft the relative position of the said movablejaw may be varied as required.

4. The improved tacking-machine com prising the feeding device toadvance the wire past the cutters, the clamping devices to hold the wirefrom undesired movement after it has been fed, the cutting devices, theplate having the nail ortack receiving slot directly in the line of feedand the drivingchannel adjacent the same, the transverselymoving pusherworking in the said slot and operating to push the nail or tack into thesaid channel, and the driver, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the feeding device to engage the wire, of a rodin operative connection with the said feeding device and in the movementin the other direction, and

means to adjust the position of the said supplemental piece withreference to the said arm, whereby to vary at will the amount of lostmotion and the extent of the feed, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the feeding device to engage the wire of a rodin operative connection with the said feeding device and provided with apin, an actuating-arm constructed to engage the pin in the movement ofthe arm in one direction, a supplemental arm constructed to engage withthe said pin in the movement of the arm in the other direction, the saidsupplemental arm having a gear-segment, and a pinion mounted on the saidactuating-arm and engaging with the said gear segment, whereby to adjustthe said supplemental arm in order to vary at will the amount of lostmotion 'and the extent of the feed, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the block 22 having a fixed jaw and a movableaw, and the lever 26 movably connected with the said block and servingto operate the said movable jaw, of a rod connected with the said lever26 and provided with a pin, an actuating arm constructed to engage thepin in the movement of the arm in one direction, a supplemental armconstructed to engage with the said pin in the movement of the arm inthe other direction, the said supplemental arm having a gear-segment,and, a pinion mount ed on the said actuating-arm and engaging with thesaid gear-segment, whereby to adjust the said supplemental arm in orderto vary at will the amount of lost motion and the extent of the feed,substantially as described.

' 8. The combination with the block 22 hav ing jaws to engage the wire,the lever 23 on which the said block is mounted, and the lever 26pivoted to the said block and serving to actuate the movable jaw, of therod hav ing universal-joint connections with the said lever 26, and anactuating ar'm with which the said rod is operatively connected, thesaid lever 23 and actuating-arm swinging in planes at an angle to eachother, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the block 22 hav-- ing a fixed jaw and a movablejaw, and the lever 26 movably connected with the said block and servingto operate the said mov able jaw, of actuating devices connected to thesaid lever, and a drag device whereby to retard the movement of the saidblock, substantially as described.

10. The combination with feed-jaws, one of which is movable toward andfrom the other, a carrier for the said jaws, and a lever movablyconnected with the said carrier and serving to operate the said movablejaw, of actuating devices connected to the said lever, a pin applied tothe said carrier, an adjustable friction device applied to the said pin,and a fixed part which is engaged by the said friction device,substantially as described.

11. The combination with the driver, an arm operatively connectedtherewith, and a spring to depress the said arm 65, of an actuating-armcarrying a spring-pressed dog to engage with the said arm 65 and causeit to rise in unison with the actuating-arm, and a fixed stop whichdisengages the dog from the said arm 65 in the course of the movement ofthe actuating-arm, and allows the spring to depress the same,substantially as described.

12. The combination with the driver, an arm 65 operatively connectedtherewith and provided with a lateral projection, and a spring todepress the said arm, of an actuating arm carrying a spring-pressed dogto en gage with the said projection and cause the arm 65 to rise inunison with the actuatingarm, the said dog having a projecting portionor tail, and a fixed stop or abutment against which the said tail iscarried in the movement of the parts and whereby the dog is disengagedfrom the projection of the arm 65 and the spring is allowed to depressthe said arm substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. HENRY H. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAoLEoD, WILLIAM A. COPELAND.

